Universal filament-coil-winding machine



Spt. 15, 1925 C. EISLER UNIVERSAL FILAMENT COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1924 g Sheets-Sheet 1 I/V NTOR (54/425 fZs/er Sept. 15, 1925. .v 1,s53,309

C. EISLER UNIVERSAL. FIL'AMENT COIL WI ND ING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 a6 '6 MO ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1925.

C. EISLER UNIVERSAL FILAMENT COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 15, 19 24 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvmk ATTORNEY emerge Sept. 15, 1925.

STATES CHARLES EISLER, O13 NEVfARK, NEW J ERSEY.

a- UNIVERSAL FILAMENT-GOIL-WINDING MACHINE Application filed March 15, 1924: Serial No. ($9,542.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES EISLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Universal F ilament-CoillVinding Machines, of which the following is a specification. V

B Iy invention relates to a universal filament coil winding machine, and particularly to a machine for making helical metallic filaments for incandescent electric lamps in which the lamp filament is wound around a mandrel wire of copper, steel or the like,

15 the mandrel wire being removed after'the winding is completed by dissolving same in a suitable acid or the like, leaving only the helices of the filament wire. I

In order to secure the helical filament withinthe incandescent electric lamp, it is necessary that the coiled filament have one or more breaks in the form of portions substantially without coiling, or portions of coarser pitch, at which points the filament can be supported in the bulb or attached to i the lead wires. These breaks also provide a convenientplace for parting the continuouslv wound coil into sma;ller:. portion s...of 'd-f s ired lengths to be. placed in incandescent electric lamps. 'Tliese breaks are arranged to makea distinct 'pattern or design "into which the filament helices of varying pitch are formed.

In prior practice great difficulty was experienced in making a uniform product and one which would be well adapted for the purposes referred to. These difficulties are eliminated by the present invention, which provides means for securing a product of high grade and uniform character.

The general object of the invention is to provide a highlyeificient machine for autoplain wound helices or for making helices having a variety of patterns or breaks therein that I designate my, filament coil winding machine as universal.

One feature of my invention consists of a novel mandrel feeding mechanism which embodies clutch means adapted to positively control the feeding movement and to eliminate s all irregularity and lost motion in connection therewit Another feature of the invention consists inthe provision of simple and trouble-proof means for electrically heating the filament wire during the coiling operation, to facilitate winding of the helical coils and to pre- 65 vent breakage, which would result from winding the filament wire when cold. Such heating in my invention is concentrated in the vicinity where it is most effective, namely, at and just in advance of the region where 9 the filament wire is wound on the mandrel wire.

Another feature consists in the provision of means near the point of winding the filament coils, to prevent distortion or malformation of the coils due to pulling-aside of the mandrel wire and dragging,.swaying, or vibration of the mandrel and filament wires, thereby insuring the formation of a uniform and highly satisfactory product.

Other features of the invention will be referred to in the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that the apparatus shown is intended only for the purpose of illustrating and affording an understanding of the invention, and is not intended for limitation of the scope of my invention, which is as defined in my claims.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my universal filament coil winding mama'tically and continuously winding helical irehine. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of lamp filaments having substantially any desired breaks or pattern.

. The machine of the present invention can also be used, if desired, for the winding of helices of uniform pitch, not having the break feature above referred to, and it 50 is by reason of this adaptability for making .upper male driving member. cross-sectional View approximately on the 100 said machine. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View of the clutch and mandrel feeding mechanism. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the clutch Worm gear, showing the lower male clutch member. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the Fig. 6 isa line 66, Fig. 1. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show three types of cams for forming three types of filament patterns. 'Figs. 10, 11 .and 12 show helical filaments having three types. of patterns, using cams such as shown in.

' centric clutch cam.

In general, the operation of the machine of my present invention is as follows:

The mandrel wire, leaving its spool, passes over an idler, through a guiding and tensioning device, and through the bore of a shaft on which rotates a bobbin carrying a spool of filament wire, which'filament wire is electrically heated and wound around the mandrel wire as the latter emerges from the bore of the shaft. The mandrel wire, with the helical filament wound thereon, is looped around a continuous groove in a mandrel feeding drum and so kept in axial alignment in the hollow shaft, around. an idler drum, and is Wound on a receiving spool or reel. The mandrel feeding drum, around which the mandrel wire is looped before same 'passes'on to the receiving spool, is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft, on the lower part of which is mounted the devices for driving the feed drum, including a clutch mechanism, which is so constructed as to be free from backlash and to secure uniformity and certainty. in the formation of the filament winding patterns.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may now be had to the drawings, which show in detail an embodiment of my'invention.

Spool 2, from which mandrel wire 3, is fed, is adjustably mounted on stand 4, and can be removed by unscrewing wing'nut 6. Spool 2 may be made of material which is a non-conductor of electricity, or in the event that a metallic spool is used, stand 4 may be insulated. The tension on spool 2 can, be

. adjusted by turning wingnut 8, which compresses spring 10 against the'slidable collar 12. M'andrel wire 3 from spool 2 is fed over idler 14 mounted on the insulated bracket 16. Idler 14 can be adjusted by moving collar 18 in or out on the bracket 16 on which collar 18 is slidably mounted, thereby changing the tension on spring 20, which connects the pivoted idler bar 21 with collar 18. Insulating bushing 22 insulates bracket 16 from machine base 24.

per end of post 26, held in place by set.

screw 36. Slidable collar 38 is held upwardly against collar 34 by the tension of spring 40, so that the mandrel wire, which comes from idler 14 and passes through a transverse guide slot 41 in post 26, is guided betweenthe fixed collar 34 and the slidable collar 38 into bore 42 of shaft 43; Shaft 43 has its bearings in the upper portion of housing 44 and is driven by a cone pulley 46 adapted to be connected to a source of power by means of a belt.

Shaft 43 carries on the end thereof remote from the pulley 46, the filament winding mechanism consisting of'a revolving plate 62, a metallic bobbin 64 for filament-wire 65, in the center of plate 62, and a guide pulley 66 located in crank relation to shaft 43 by being placed toward the periphery of plate 62 and set at a suitable angle with respect to the plane of plate 62 for guiding the filament wire.

Shaft 43 with bore 42 therein preferablyprojects through and-beyond plate 62 and bobbin 64, so that the mandrel wire 3- passes therethrough, and the filament wire is wound thereon when the mandrel wire emerges from bore 42 of shaft 43. If desired, shaft 43 or part thereof may be lined with an insulating tube to'insure the mandrel wire from being electrically grounded.

Near the edge of plate 62 and insulated therefrom is mounted a bracket 68, which has adjustably fastened therein a guide 70,

which is preferably of semi-circular crosssection (see Fig. 13). The rotation of plate 62 causes the filament wire from bobbin 64 passing over pulley 66 to be wound around the mandrel wire 3 as the latter emerges from bore 42 of shaft 43. Guide 70 is positioned near the point where the filament wire is wound around the mandrel wire so that the fiat side 71 of guide 70 bears against the helical coils as they are being wound around the mandrel wire. Guide 7 0, being arranged to oppose any pulling effect exerted toward the guide roll 66, (see Fig. 2), acts as a stabilizer to steadythe mandrel wire while the filament wire is being wound around it, thereby enabling the coil winding to be carried on smoothly and uniformly, and preventing 'distortion, spreading or jumping of the coils. which otherwise tends to result due to sidewise displacement of the mandrel wire, or swaying,- dragging and vibration of the parts.

. Shaft 43 drives the transverse shaft 48 by means of a Worm 49 on the former and a worm gear 50 on shaft 48. Shaft 48 drives from one end thereof, a gear train consist ing of gears 51, 52 and 54, and. from its opposite end, a similar gear train consisting of gears 56, 58 and 60. These gear sets are readily removable and replaceable to provide various desired driving ratios. The

first of these gear trains supplies the normal drive movement for the feed drum 72 and j secured by insulating pin 102 and insulatment wire -wound thereon.

also drives the take up spool; and the secing bushing 104 to the upper end of vertical 0nd gear train aduatesthen'ntennittent adslhaft106 mounted to turn in bearings 108 vancing mechanism for the feed drum 72.

The periphery of mandrel feeding drum 72 is provided with grooves as 72, 72 72, to receive the mandrel wire with the fila- The wound product consisting of the mandrel wire 3 with the helical wound filamentfwire thereon makes a complete turn around groove 7 2 of drum 72, passes around a groove in idler drum'74, back again and around groove 72 of drum 72, a second time around idler 74, around groove 7 2 of drum 72, and thence to receiving spool? 6. With this arrangement the mandrel wire 3 is axially, alined at all times with the axis of hollow shaft 43.

The receiving spool 76 is spring tensioned on its actuating shaft 78 by leaf spring 80, the tension being adjustable by knurled nut 81, and in this way spool 76 can slip relative to its driving shaft 78 to compensate for varying diameters as the product wire 82 is wound thereon. Idler drum 74 is mounted to turn on a vertical post 83, which is insulated from machine base 24 by insulating bushing 85. The means for driving feed drum 72 are described below.

The means for rotating the receiving spool 76 and its shaft 78 comprise the shaft-.86 (Fig. 6) driven from shaft 48 through the 7 train of gears 51, 52, 54. Shaft 86 has pinned thereto a pulley 88 which is connected bybelt 92 to drive pulley 94 on shaft 78. Shaft 78 rotates receiving spool 76 through the slipping connection above referred to.

Shaft 86 extends only partially through bore 95 of pulley 88, leaving a space therein 1 to receive and provide a bearing for one end of shaft 96, which is in line with shaft 86, and is driven from shaft 48 through the other gear train 56, 58 and 60.. Shafts 86 and 96 rotate independently and may be driven at different speeds, the bore 95 of pulley 88 serving merely as a support or bearing for the inner end of shaft 96.

The actuating mechanism for the mandrel feeding drum 72 will now be described. Same comprises means for imparting uniform driving movement to the drum 72, but in such a way, however, that drum 72 may be given a relatively quick additional forward movement from timeto time. The shaft 86 serves to impart substantially uniformrotation to feed drum 72 by means of worm'98 fixed on shaft 86, worm gear 100 meshing with worm 98, and clutch mechanism hereinafter referred to. Shaft 96 actuates the clutch mechanism for imparting intermittent advancing movement to the feed drum 7 2, thereby determining the. pat- Bern of the filament as wound on'the manrel.

The insulated mandrel feeding drum 72 is thereto a male clutch member 114, which isdriven from worm gear 100, the lower face whereof is provided with a recess 116 to constitute same a female clutch member. Said male clutch member 114 and the shaft 106 and drum 72 are driven from the combined female clutch member and worm gear 100 by means of the eccentric clutch cams 118, which are pivoted on pins 120 on said male clutch member 114, and have their outer eccentrically formed faces 122 adapted to enter the recess 116 in the lower side of menber 100 and engage the peripheral wall-124 of said recess.

The clutch cams" 118 are eccentrically shaped fiat members having their preferably arcuate end working faces 122 eccentrically formed relative to the pivoting point on pins 120, so that when the clutch cams are turned on their pivot, there is a clearance between what may be referred to as the forward pormember 114, the apex of .the V being passed around supporting pins 138 provided in the male clutch member 114 for that purpose,

and the other leg of the V bearing against the clutch cams 118 to hold same'yielda-bly in contact with the female clutch wall 124.

It will be seen that when worm gear 100 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the combined eccentric and spring engagement of the clutch cams 118 with-the female driving surface 124 will result in similar movement of the male clutch member 114 with consequent similar rotation of shaft 106 and feed drum 72. It will also be seen'that the construction described permits independent forward movement of shaft 106 and clutch member 114, and that when such extra movement in the same direction is independently imparted to shaft 106, the clutch cams 118 will be moved relativelybackward to a very slight extent by compression of springs 132, permitting shaft 106 and clutch member 114 to be moved ahead independent to the movement of worm gear 100, and further that when in such independent forward movement of shaft 106 tion of springs 132 that the driving action v face in the reverse or opposite direction to' of gear 100' upon male clutch member 114 will be taken up again immediately and Without any of the slack or lost motion, which would result from the use of engaging members such as pawls, ratchets and the like.

As already'stated, the apparatus for imparting independent forward movement to shaft 106 and feed drum 72 is operated from shaft 96. Worm 140 meshes with and drives the worm wheel 142 and its shaft 144.' Fixed on the shaft 144 by the nut 146 is the pattern cam 148. Such cam may be of any desired form and the mounting thereof is such that it is readily replaceable. In F igs. 7, 8 and 9 I have shownpattern cams 148 148 and 148 adapted for the making of products having the patterns illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 respectively. Cam

' 148 works against the flat end 1500f a slide bar 152, slidably mounted in bearings 154 and 156. Such slidebar 152 is provided with-adjustable collars 158 and 160. The spring 162 encircling slide bar 152 and interposed between the collar 160 and the bearing 156 serves to give a quick return movement to slide bar 152 and to keep the flat end 150 up against the irregular surface of the cam 148. It will be seen that with the construction described quick return, longitudinal reciprocating movement is imparted to the slide member 152 depending upon the particular contour of thecam 148. Slide bar 152 has fixed thereto a yoke 164 having a slot 166 for reception of pin 168, which is secured to male clutch member 170. Said male clutch member 170 is mounted to turn on a collar 171 of a female clutch member 180, referred to below, and provided with pivot pins 172 and eccentric clutch cams 174 and springs constructed and arranged as in the case of the clutch parts already described for the continuous movementdrive with the sole exception that the eccentric gripping surfaces of the eccentric clutch cams 174 on male clutch member 170 those on male clutch member 114. Such eccentric clutch cams 174 engage a driving surface 176 forming a wall of a recess 178 in a'female clutch member 180, which recess 178 is of a form to receive the eccentric clutch cams 174. Said female clutch member 180 is pinned by pin 181 to shaft 106.

The reversal in the case of the two clutch member cams is due to the fact that for the continuous drive, the drive is from female to male clutch member, whereas for the intermittent accelerated movement, drive is from male to female clutch member.

The operation of the clutch mechanism will be plain from the foregoing. Worm gear 100 and its associated parts serves to impart substantially uniform feeding move-' ment to feed drum 72 and mandrel wire' 3,

the gears of gear train 51, 52 and 54 being selected to give the desired pitch and relative speed of rotation.

be removed, helices of filament wire will be produced of pitch depending on'the number of-teethfetc, in geartrain 51, 52 and 54, and. a uniform product without breaks or pattern will be produced.

When, however, the gear train 56, 58 and I Should the gear train 56, 58 and 60 or any one of these gears 60 is made use of with gears having a suitimparting momentary forward movement, to the male clutch member 170 and to the female clutch member 180 through the clutch cams 174, resulting in a rapid momentary extra forward movement of drum 72 and a localized coarser winding or substantialabsence of coiling, as indicated,

for example, at 200, Fig. 10. The formation o'r'patt'ern of such breaks maybe variously modified. For instance, short and long'brejaks 202, 204maybe alternately providedfas shown in Fig. 12, by the use of the cam 148of Fig. 9, or various otherarrangeinents'may be resorted to, as, for example, there may be merely aplurality of breaks .210 formed in each revolution of the'cam, as shown in Fig. 11, and as produced/by cam 148 of Fig. 8. The production of such breaks or patterns results from the filament wire being wound around the mandrel wire during the intermittent extra forward. advancing movements of drum 72 more coarsely or in helices ofgreater pitch than is produced whenthe mandrel feeding drum 72 is rotated uniformly by .worm gear 100. If the drum acceleration is sufficiently increased, it will result in a portion of the filament wire substantially not 0 being coiled at all, but lying practically parallel to the mandrel wire.

It will be seen that the clutching engagement of clutch cams 17 4 is automatically released at the completion of the extra forward movement imparted thereby, and that the clutch cams 118 coacting with combined worm gear and femaleclutchmember 100 a are spring held in a position ready to take hold as soon as such extra independent forward movement of the feed drum has been completed. This entirely obviates backlash between the driving apparatus and the feed drum, which in-prior devices intended for the control of coilin speed has resulted in uneven coiling and piling up of the filament coils at one spot whenever backlashing occurred. l/Vith my improved construction, however, which is quite free from backlash,

' there is no irregularity or unevenness in the members and the nails removed, whereuponproduct produced, but same is entirely certain and uniform, according to the particular pattern the machine may be set for.

To facilitate assemblyof the clutch mechanism, four small recesses 250 are provided in each of the male driving members 114 and 170 near the edge of the plates and opposite the pivot pins on which the eccentric clutch cams 'are mounted. T 0 place clutch members 114 and 170 into operative position, each, clutch cam is forced against its spring and a nail or the like inserted in the recess 250 from the under side of the clutch member and reaching to about the upper surface of the cam, to hold the cam in such position. .With the cams in such retracted position, the male clutch members are placed into their respective female clutch the pressure of the springs expands the cams into engagement with the wall of the female clutch member recess.

To heat the filament wire during the coiling operation, I have provided an electric circuit of great simplicity and requiring but grounded. By connecting one pole of the electrical circuit to the machine base, as shown at 178 (Fig. 1), the electriccurrent is carried through all parts of the machine not insulated, especially to bobbin 64, and electrically energizes the filament wire thereon. The circuit is completed by connecting the other pole 180 to a part in electrical contact with the mandrel wire, as insulated post 83, on which the mandrel wire idler drum 74 is pivoted, thereby leaving no path for the current except through the filament wire and heating the filament wire in the area where it is most needed, namely, where the mandrel wire emerges from the bore of the revolving bobbin, and the filament wire therefrom is wound around it. The current is preferably of such capacity as to heat the filament wire to a red heat, which is an ideal condition for winding same around the mandrel wire. The circuit, of course, includes suitable rheostats' is passed on its way to the winding point, rotatable means on'said shaft rotating c0- axially therewith for winding filament wire on the mandrel wire after its emergence from the hollow shaft, and steadying means rotating with said filament windin means for the mandrel wire in the neighborhood where the filament-wire is wound thereon.

2. In a device of the class described,a rotatable shaft with an axial bore, means for feeding mandrel wire through the bore, means for winding filament wire on the mandrel wire after its emergence from the shaft bore and comprising a filament bobbin coaxial with the shaft, a guide for the filament wire from off the bobbin rotating with said shaft in substantially crank relation thereto, and a steadying member also rotatmg with said shaft and adapted to restrain the mandrel wire from displacement in a direction toward the filament wire guide.

'3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable shaft having an axial bore, means for feeding mandrel wire therethrough, and means for winding filament wire on the mandrel wire after it has passed through the bore of the shaft comprising a bobbin rotating coaxially with said shaft, a substantially disk like member on said shaft, a filament wire guide on said disk and a steadying member of semi-circular cross-section also on said disk, the steadying member being adapted to extend close to the mandrel wire in the neighborhood where filament wire is wound thereon and on the same side of the mandrel wire as the filament wire guide, whereby'vibration and displacement of the mandrel wire toward the filament wire guide are substantially prevented.

4. In a filament winding machine, means for winding filament wire around mandrel wire, comprising a plate, a filament contaming bobbin mounted in-the center of said plate, an idler. mounted near. the periphery .of said plate in crank relation to the bobbin,

and a bar of semi-circular cross-section mounted on said plate, so that its fiat side bears against the mandrel wire while the filament wire is being wound thereon.

5. In a filament winding machine, means for winding filament wire around a mandrel wire, comprising a shaft with a bore therein through which the mandrel wire emerges, a

revolving plate on said shaft, a bobbin mounted in the center of said plate, an idler mounted on said plate at an angle with respect to the plane of said plate, over which the filament wire passes before it is wound around the mandrel wire, and a bar of semi circular cross-section mounted on said plate and adapted to revolve therewith, the flat side of said bar being adapted to bear against the mandrel wire as the filament wire is wound thereon;

6', In a machine for winding filament wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means and mandrel feeding means including a rotary feeding member having a plurality of grooves therearound, a rotatable idler member also having a corresponding. plurality of grooves therearound, the wound product being adapted to pass around the feeding member and idler member as many times as there are grooves therein, anda receiving reel for taking up the wound product.

7. In-a machine for Winding filament wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means, a mandrel feed drum, means including an eccentric clutch making substantially continuous driving engagement in one direction for imparting substantially uniform feeding movement to said drum, and ancillary means for imparting momentary accelerated feeding movement to said drum.

8. In a machine for winding filament Wire on a mandrel wire,filament winding means and mandrel feeding means, said mandrel feeding means including eccentric clutch means adapted to positively actuate thefeeding means and permitting independent advancement of the feeding means without resulting lost motion. I

9. In a machine for winding filament wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means, and mandrel feeding means including eccentric clutch meansfor producing substantially uniform feeding movement WltlI" -&IlClllarym'eans for producing momentary-accelerated feeding movement without-resultin lost motion therebetween. in H 10. In a machine for winding means, a mandrel feed drum, eccentric clutch means for imparting substantially uniform rotation to said drum, and! eccentric"- clutch means for imparting momentary accelerated feeding movement to said drum, both of said eccentric clutch means making substantially continuous driving engagement in a' one-directional sense.

11. In a machine for winding filament Wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means, a-mandrel feed drum, a pair of clutch members for driving said drum substantially uniformly and for imparting momentary accelerated feeding movement thereto respectively, said clutch members comprising eccentric clutch cams having substantially continuous driving engagement in a one-d1rectional sense and each of said clutch members being adapted to permit independent movement of the feed drum in the like direction.

12. In a machine for winding filament Wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means, a take up reel, a feed drum for feeding the mandrel-wire with respect to the filament winding means, and eccentric clutch means for rotating the feed drum.

13. In a machine for winding filament "filament wire on a mandrel w1r'e, filament winding uniform rotation and intermittent momentary accelerated rotation. respectively to said mandrel feed means.

15. In a machine for winding filament wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means, mandrel take up means, mandrel feed means between the take up means and filament winding means, and substantially backlash free eccentric clutch means for imparting normally substantially uniform rotation and intermittent momentary accelerated rotation respectively to said mandrel feed means.

16.. In a machine for winding filament wire on a mandrel wire, filament winding means, mandrel take up means, mandrel feed means between the take up means and filament winding means, and spring engaged eccentric clutch means for imparting normally substantially uniform rotation and intermittent momentary accelerated rotation respectively to said mandrel feed means.

1,17. In a machine for winding filament I mandrel wire, said means comprising a pluralit'yf 'of axially arranged and independently actuated spring engaged eccentric clutches.

18. In a machine for winding filament wire on mandrel wire, filament winding means, and means for feeding the mandrel Wire along at substantially uniform and momentarily acceleratedrates respectively and comprising a uniformly rotating spring engaged eccentric clutch and an intermittently operated similar clutch."

19. In mechanism for winding filament Wire on mandrel wire, a hollow shaft through which the mandrel wire is-passed, a tensioning guide for mandrel wirein alinement with the shaft'bore,'a grooved feed drum for mandrel wire, having the groove thereof arranged tangentially to the axis of the shaft bore, means for winding filament Wire on the mandrel wire between the shaft and the feed drum, and means for electrically heating the filament wire as it"is wound on the mandrel wire.

20. In a machine for winding filament wire on mandrel wire, filament winding means, a feed drum for the mandrel wire, a

feed drum shaft, two driven clutch members secured to said shaft, two driving clutch members coacting with the driven clutch members, means for imparting substantially uniform rotational movement to one of said driving clutch members, means for imparting momentary accelerated partial rotation to the second one ofsaid drivlng clutch members, and means for electrically heating' the filament wire as it is wound on the man- 10 drel wire.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

' CHARLES EISLER. 

